2019 Track Season Begins on ​January 14th, 2019 at 3:30pm

Who: Anyone interested (bring a friend)What: Track & Field consists of 18 events: Sprinting, Mid-Distance, Distance/Endurance, Jumping, Throwing, and Relays (There are events for athletes of ALL abilities, come with a desire to improve)Where: Meet in the fieldhouse When: Mon-Friday at 3:30pm and Saturdays at 8am

What you need:**Make sure you have an active physical.**Make sure you have registered with the athletic department**Wear running/athletic shoes, shorts, and T-shirt

Nike Midwest Concludes a Session for the Ages​November 11, 2018

11th Place at the IHSA State MeetNovember 3, 2018

IHSA SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS!! (Second time in school history)​October 27, 2018

IHSA REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!!​October 20, 2018

Congrats to the Girls Cross Country team for winning the IHSA Regional. This marks the 3rd Regional title in the past 4 years and the 10th in school history. Leading the way for the Knights and being named as a top 5 regional medalist was Jenna Baltes. Other Knights in tow were Ginsberg, Valentini, Hubbard, Erickson, Drew, and Wasowicz. Come out this Saturday at 10am to watch the Knights compete at the Sectional at Busse Woods. GO KNIGHTS!!

Reigning Supreme at Prospect Invite​October 16, 2018

Congrats to the Girls Cross Country team as they placed 1st as a team and brought home 11 medalists at the Prospect Invitational. Leading the way and winning by 31 was Gabriella Piagari, followed in 2nd place by Hope Wasowicz, and rounding out the 1-2-3 finish was Paige Runkle. Other medalists were DeCook, Skoufos, Henning, Allemeier, Hindmand, Zakula, Heil, and Beck. Great job and next up is the IHSA Regional at Busse Woods on Saturday at 10am. GO KNIGHTS!!

MSL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!!​October 13, 2018

​The tone was set at the start of the day for the Knight as the gun fired to start the MSL F/S girls race at Melas Park. Hope Wasowicz, Paige Runkle, and Taylor DeCook pushed to the front while their teammates were close in tow. By the 1.5 mile mark Hope Wasowicz was on the move and pulling away from the field and 6 runners were pushing to be All-Conference. The result at the finish line was a 2nd place team finish to Palatine (45 Pro - 36 Pal) and 6 All-Conference athletes. Wasowicz (1st in 19:19), Runkle (4th), DeCook (9th), Hennig (14th), Prempas (17th), and Allemeier (20th).

Knights win the MSL Conference Championships over a very competitive field and two very good Barrington and Palatine teams. The Knights moved in the middle of the race and put themselves in position to run a tight split and score low. The final result was a 22 second split on 1-5 and 27 seconds on 1-7 and victory to the Knights. The Knights placed all 7 runners in the top 15 scoring Ginsberg (5th), Hubbard (6th), O'Grady (8th), Erickson (12th), Baltes (13th), Lettow (14th), and Valentini (15th). This is the 3rd MSL Conference title in the last 4 years and the Knights 5th title in the last 10 years (2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018).

As the Knighted prepared for the last race of the day they were riding high and eager to surpass the goal of 18 all conference athletes and shot at winning the JV race. The JV race was off and the Knights pushed to the front with senior Cori Drew taking the lead and never looking back. Following closely behind were teammates Piagari and Skoufos and then the Knight's pack. By the 1.5 mile mark the Knights had 6 runners in the top 25 and senior Paliwoda on the move. Paula P. ran an excellent next 1.5 miles and as she heard the girls around her breathing hard she surged on. The result at the finish line was a huge celebration as Paula crossed the line in 24th place and tears of joy filled the air. The Knights won the JV race by a score of 32-41 over Palatine and did so by securing a 1-2-3 finish and 7 All-Conference runners. Cori Drew as the race winner in 19:06 which would have placed her 20th in the varsity race. The tandem all race of Skoufos and Piagari finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Lia and company way to believe in each other and the 1-2-3 (CBA). The 7 All-Conference runners in the JV race were Drew (1st), Skoufos (2nd), Piagari (3rd), Hindmand (12th), Zakula (14th), Heil (22nd), and Paliwoda (24th).

This was a special day and a day that reminds us why we run, what we are training for, and who we run for. We run with our hearts and for each other.

This day was not possible without all the help and support of the athletes (for each other every day), by their parents, by their friends/family, and the staff of PHS. A huge congrats to all of the competitors on a special day for the Home of the Knights. GO KNIGHTS!!

Loyola Dual (Home course Prs)October 4, 2018

​The Knights got back to business on their home course and won over visiting Loyola with 3 girls running under 19:00 (O'Grady, Valentini, Baltes) and the 1-5 split was 35 seconds. The Knights scored a perfect 15 to 50 victory as they took the top 7 places in the race. Leading the way was O’Grady followed by Valentini, Baltes, Hubbard, Ginsberg, Piagari, and Drew.

In the JV race the Knights were led by a 1-5 Knight finish and won by a score of 15 to 48. Leading the way was Wasowicz, Runkle, Hindmand, Hennig, and Prempas taking the top 5 spots. This group keeps getting better. Next up is the MSL Conference meet at Saturday at Melas Park. Come out and support the Knights this Saturday, GO KNIGHTS!!

Peoria Invitational Champions​September 29, 2018

​Knights win the Peoria Invite scoring 55 points. The Knights placed 6 runners in the top 25 and ran a tight 24 second split. Average top 5 was 17:54 and they did this with 4 runners breaking 18:00, an 18:08, 18:14, and 18:28 to round out their 7 runners. Great day and stay focused on your goals and the process, GO KNIGHTS!

Split Squad Excels at Niles West InviteSeptember 29, 2018

With a split squad, the Varsity team placed 6th led by the strong jr/sr performances of Piagari, Skoufos, Zakula, Hindmand, and Heil. Congrats to Lia Skoufos (11th) and Gabriella Piagari (8th) who placed in the top 25.

In the FS race the Knights ran to 2nd place team finish scoring 72 points. The Knights rallied behind a 1-2-3 finish of Barbaric, Wasowicz, Runkle and closing out the scoring was Hennig and Tori Borozdin to secure the 2nd place trophy. (Barabaric 1st, Wasowicz 2nd, Runkle 3rd, Hennig (fr) 16th, and Thorri Borozdin (fr) 50th.

In the JV 2.0 mile race, the Knights enjoyed the opportunity to race on a flat and fast course. The Knights won the JV level by scoring 19 points and placing 6 in the top 12. Winning the race was freshmen Evelyn Allemeier, Kira Skoufos (2nd), Palomo (3rd), Boghossian (6th), Florianowicz (7th), and Kirby (12th). Impressive performances and a great team day, GO KNIGHTS!!

MSL East Champions (Willow Stream)September 26, 2018

Knights win the varsity MSL East title taking 7 of the top 11 places and scoring on a 20second split for 1-5runners. The Knights pushed the start and held strong the entire race. This group is starting to come together. This marks the 10th MSL East Title in the last 11 years. Keep up the great work.

In the JV race the Knights were led by Elena Barbaric, Hope Wasowicz, and Paige Runkle who went 1-2-3 to help the Knights win 17-46 over Hersey. Keep up the great work.

At the Palatine Invite F/S ImpressesSeptember 22, 2018

The Knights placed 5th in the highly competitive Palatine Invite. The Knights were led by Julia O'Grady who placed 13th and ran a lifetime best. Others running outstanding PRs were Lia Skoufos and Gabriella Piagari.

In the Fresh/Soph race the Knights scored an impressive 29 points to win the team title. The Knights placed 6 runners in the top 22 and were led by a 2, 3 finish by Annika Erickson and Audrey Ginsberg, respectively.

​In the JV race, the Knights placed 14th as a team and were led by Sarah Hindmand who continues to turn on the gas.

Libertyville Invite a Step in the Right Direction September 15, 2018

The Knights placed 2nd behind state ranked New Trier and were led by Jenna Baltes (4th).

In the FS race, the Knights were led to a team victory over New Trier, as sophomore, Reese Lettow ran to the victory as the Knights placed 9 in the top 30 and 5 in the top 10. Keep up the great work girls!

​In the JV race, the Knights placed 3rd and had 5 of the top 22 finishers. The Knights were led by Allison Zakula who continues to improve each week.

To cap off the meet was a coaches, parent and alumni fun run (2.0 miles). The Prospect contingent was there and ready to represent. This group was led by a number of senior moms that trained 4 years for this race and were ready to showcase their talents. A huge thanks to all the parents and alumni that came out and ran with us. There are 365 days until the race next year for those that are ready to start their training.

Conant Quad - Executing even paced running September 11, 2018

​The Knights packed it up as a team as they worked on tightening up their team split. #1-5 ran a 25 sec split and are continuing to improve.

​In the JV race, the Knights posted a nearly perfect team score by taking 6 of the top 7 spots. The Knights were led by freshmen, Audrey Ginsberg.

Lake Park Invite - A team on the riseSeptember 8, 2018

Varsity places 2nd behind Glenbard West. JV race had 5 athletes in the top 15 to place 2nd as a team, and in the Open 1.95 mile race the Knights placed 4th. Great showing and next up the Libertyville Picnic.

Fenton Invitational - A race for the memories

It was a day of rain, storms, and delays but the Knights stuck it out. Under senior leadership, the Knights decided to stick it out for a race of the ages. On this day the Knights toed the line with their entire team in one combined race as the skies cleared long enough to let the kids kick off their season. The course was puddle filled, muddy, and a lot of fun. It reminds us all of the joys of playing in puddles and being young, innocent, and free.

Smiles filled the athletes faces as they crossed the finish line of their first invite of the season. In the Varsity race, the Knights placed 2nd behind DGS and the F/S would have been 2nd place behind DGS but was not scored due to a combined race.

Wheeling and Barrington Tri meet - Signs of Potential But Work to be done

The Knights hosted the opening triangular of the season and the result: A Split decision. Loss to Barrington (34-21), win over Wheeling (18-35)

​JV double wins, 15-48 over Barrington, 15-50 over Wheeling

The 2018 XC Season is Underway!

The Knights officially kicked off the 2018 season on August 8, 2018 at 8am. We have a solid crew of returners and some good young talent. New athletes are still welcome to join and we look forward to the season ahead. Please see or contact Coach Wintermute or Coach Cottrell if you have questions.

Prospect Girls Team Apparel Shop NOW OPEN (closes Jan 31st)

2018 Prospect Girls Track & Field Team Shop is now open!Find items that I've picked out specifically for our team.There is also spiritwear available for your family and friends.Check out the shop details below and place your order today.

Required Items (one time purchase during your 4 years in the program):Nike Stormfit team jacket embroidered with your name Prospect Team bag (duffle or backback) with your name

The indoor season is here upon us and we are excited about the returning corps and the influx of some new and inspiring youth. The Knights are coming off Back2Back Indoor and Outdoor Conference titles and are hungry to build upon the work ethic that has been built.

Below is a link to the 2018 Track & Field meet schedule.Parent meeting will be in mid/late February. (more info to come)

Practice is generally Monday - Friday 3:30-5:30/6:00 and Saturdays from 8:00-10:00/10:30am but may vary based upon space and availability. Please contact pete.wintermute@d214.org with questions.​

Knights Place 18th at IHSA State Meet in Peoria (Nov 4, 2017)

Knights STATE BOUND at Schaumburg Sectional (Oct 28, 2017)

Knights Reign Supreme at Hoffman Regional (Oct 21, 2017)

Knights Race to PRs in the End of Season 1600m Time Trial (Oct 19, 2017)

The weather cooperated and gave the athletes the best conditions to run a PR (Sunny, no wind, and 60s) and they Knights took advantage. 14 of 24 athletes that ran in the 1600m Time Trial ran life time bests and continued to show they are in the best shape of their lives. Leading the way was Jenna Baltes who dropped an impressive 5:30 and a large contingent who stepped up their game and broke the 6:00 barrier. That is 12 athletes broke 6:00 and a number of them were Freshmen. Keep up the great work, train hard, work together, push and challenge each other, and set your goals (both long and short term goals). Dream Big and Go For It! GO KNIGHTS!!

Knights Begin to Heat up at Palatine (Sept 23, 2017)

1-2-3-4 Finish for the Knights leads to Victory over Hersey (Sept 19, 2017)

Congrats to the Varsity Girls Cross Country team on their decisive win over Hersey yesterday at Prospect High School. The Varsity won 18 to 37 and were lead by a 1-2-3-4 finish of Olsen, Lettow, Rouse, O'Grady and rounding out the top 7 were Hubbard, Valentini, and Kitzmiller. It has been a year in waiting to reclaim the tops of the MSL East and to avenge the nail-bitter from last season dual meet. The Knights came to play and ran with poise through the middle of the race as they continued to move up. At the 1.5mile mark, the Knights were 1,3,4,6,8 by the 2.5mile mark it was 1,3,4,7,9 and at the finish line the Knights posted an impressive 1,2,3,4,8 finish and a 37second split. It was a total team effort and this team is starting to gel together and our focus remains on weekly improvements with the end results in mind.

In the Girls JV race the Knights lost a hard fought battle by a score of 31-24 and were led by Jenna Baltes and Elena Barbaric. With a slim JV squad the Knights had their work cut out for themselves as there were 12 athletes in the Varsity race working to push the Hersey 5th runner. Baltes, Barbaric, and Heil had solid starts to lead the Knights though a number of others got out and struggled to move up the way they had in the past few meets. We will walk away from this meet with valuable lessons learned as we seek our perfect race. A special thanks to all the faculty, parents, and students that came out to support the Knights at Cram the Course and cheered the Knights to victory. GO KNIGHTS!!

1-2-3 Team Finishes at Libertyville Invite (Sept 16, 2017)

Congrats to the Prospect Girls Varsity Cross Country team for placing 3rd out of 17 teams. Leading the way for the Knights in 2nd place was Mikayla Olsen, followed by Lettow 12th, O'Grady 17th, Rouse 18th, Valentini 20th. A 45second team split put our top 5 runners all in the top 20.

In the Frosh-soph race the Knights placed 2nd and were led by a second place finish by freshmen Elena Barbaric. The Knights placed all 5 runners in the top 22: Wasowicz 7th, Michelini 14th, Piagari 16th, and Zakula 19th.

And rounding out the day was a team victory in the JV race as the Knights placed 9 runners in the top 23 finishers and 5 in top 9 finishers. Dominant! The 1-2 punch of Kitzmiller first place and Cori Drew second place set the tone of the race as they were followed by Baltes 4th, Beck 8th, Rishko 9th, Heil 12th, Dircks 17th, Paczko 19th, and Roberson 23rd.

Congrats on a great day and next up is the Hersey Huskies on Tuesday for the MSL East Division. Come out and Cram the Course as the Knights prepare to start a new streak. GO KNIGHTS!!

Perfect Scores at Elk Grove (Sept 14, 2017)

Congrats to the Prospect Girls XC team for their perfect score victories over Elk Grove on Thursday. On the JV level the Knights scored a perfect 15 to 50 victory taking the first 14 runners in the race. Leading the way for the Knights was freshmen Elena Barbaric who ran to 1st place in a time of 13:34 followed by Heil, Rishko, Runkle Piagari, Michelini, Paczko.

In the girls varsity race the Knights cruised to victory winning by a perfect score of 15 to 50 over Elk Grove. Running to the individual title was Julia O'Grady running 19:53 followed by Olsen, Skoufos, Rouse, Kitzmiller, Hubbard and Drew.

Best of luck this weekend as the Knights head to the Libertyville Invite on Saturday. GO KNIGHTS!!

Elk Grove Dual Meet Results

Bringing Home Hardware at Lake Park Invite (Sept 9, 2017)

Congrats to the Girls Cross Country varsity team as they placed 3rd at the Lake Park Invite on Saturday. Leading the Knights were Mikayla Olsen in 9th place, Valentini in 27th, and Rouse in 30th.

In the Girls JV race the Knights placed 3rd and were led by freshmen, Reese Lettow, who ran to individual title. Also placing in the top 25 were Piagari in 5th, Kitzmiller 11th, Baltes 18th, and Maggie Heil in 24th.

In the Girls Open 2.0 mile race the Knights placed 2nd as a team putting 6 runners in the top 25. Leading the Knights were Annika Erickson in 2nd place, Barbaric in 4th, Runkle in 9th, Wasowicz in 16th, Hindmand in 20th, and Prempas in 25th place.

It was big team day for the Knights bringing home 3 team plaques and many PRs. Congrats to all the girls that participated and GO KNIGHTS!!

Knights Roll Against BG in Dual (Sept 14, 2017)

Congrats to the JV team for the perfect score against Buffalo Grove on Thursday. The Knights scored a perfect 15 to 50 while taking the top 15 places in the Girls JV race. Winning the race was freshmen Annika Ericsson followed by Barbaric, Runkle, Heil, and Michelini.

In the Girls Varsity race the Knights found their grove and pulled away to a convincing victory winning 16 to 44. The Knights placed 5 runners in the top 6 and were led to victory by Mikayla Olsen and Julia O'Grady and ounding out the top 5 were Valentini, Rouse, and Hubbard. Congrats to all participants on a day of many PRs and best of luck this weekend as the Knights head to Lake Park Invite. GO KNIGHTS!!

Come out and Support Prospect Girls XC on Sept 6th at Chipotle

Enjoy great food while supporting Prospect XCTF. Please show the flier at the register. Thank you for the support, GO KNIGHTS!!

Knights Battle to Fast Times at Fenton Invite (Sept 2, 2017)

The Knights bounced back from a disappointing showing on Tuesday and ran with a resurgence. The girls took a big step forward and continue to focus on the process ahead. Our goal is making the necessary weekly improvements needed for success in October/November and developing connectedness.

​In the Varsity race, the Knights placed 5th clipping at the heels of the Fremd Vikings. They were lead by Mikayla Olsen (19:00), Julia O'Grady (19:10), Kaitlyn Rouse (19:37), Marissa Valentini (19:43), and Cori Drew (20:13). With the addition Hubbard and Skoufos from the FS race the top 5 split was 46 second.

In the FS race, the Knights were lead by a trio of sophomores all placing in the top 20: Skoufos (5th), Hubbard (10th), and Piagari (16th). Rounding out the Top 7 were a quad of freshmen Annika Erickson (32nd), Elena Barbaric (48th), Paige Runkle (49th), and Samantha Prempas (60th). This combined effort lifted the Knights to a 4th place finish and the first team trophy of the season.

In the JV race, the Knights were out to a blistering opening mile and were led by Maggie Heil who squeaked in there with the last ribbon of the day, 25th place. The JV ran a 31second split from #1-5 which put the top 5 all in the top 40 of the race.

Knights Fall to Fremd While Olsen Shines (August 29, 2017)

It was not the ideal way to start the season against MSL West foe, the Fremd Vikings though there were a few big perks. On the opening day of the 2017 XC season the Knights had their work cut out for them with a much improved and young Fremd squad. Senior Mikayla Olsen took the race out hard and Reese Lettow (freshmen) was in tow but behind the pack was splintered. After the mile mark we ran 7 different races. We lost our focus and composure and never had a response for the strong Fremd pack.

Senior Mikayla Olsen achieved a monumental mark by running in the Top 10 Record Board by running 18:51 in the opening meet of the year. She took the race out hard and never stepped off the gas. She ran solo from the opening 400m and ran a 58 second improvement from last season's dual vs. Loyola. Mikayla has put in the hard work and is ready to lead the Knights. She is much improved from last year and her confidence has grown.

Other highlights from the meet: Freshmen Reese Lettow ran as our #2 runner and held right in there with the Fremd pack. She will continue to improve as the season progresses as will sophomores Emily Hubbard and Gabriella Piagara whom are both much improved from last season.

XC IS HERE!! Prospect Jr High Kickoff Meet a huge success!

2017 4th Annual K-8th grade Track meet on July 25th at 6:30pm

2017 Team Store closes 7/25/17. Order now! Access Code: Knightxc17

June 12 is the Start of a New Beginning, what are you doing to develop yourself into a better athlete?Summer camps provide consistent training, which is key to the development of speed, strength, and endurance of any athlete. Your successes are attributed to the work you put in in the off season and the commitment you make to bettering yourself each and every day. Commit yourself to the team and your training and reap the future benefits.

This summer there will be a number of opportunities for high school, junior high, and elementary athletes to get involved with both cross country and track & field offered by the Prospect High School XCTF program. Our 2017 Prospect XCTF Summer Camp Flier is attached for you to pass along to friends and family and remember to sign up so you don't miss out on the opportunity to be apart of Girls XCTF. GO KNIGHTS!!

4x800m Relay Places 6th at IHSA State (May 20, 2017)

The 4x800m Relay of Skoufos (fr), Kitzmiller (jr), Leeney (sr), and Wilson (sr) ran a courageous race and ran like they belong in the IHSA State Finals. They ran 9:21.38 and placed 6th and earned the right to be called IHSA All-State. It was the first appearance in the IHSA State Finals since 2013 and these young ladies put Prospect HS back on the map. This accomplishment was a total team effort as Olsen (jr) and Heil (sr) were integral pieces to this teams success as they ran like "champions" in the IHSA Sectional to qualify the relay to State. Dream Big, and Don't Stop Until you Get There!Splits: 2:18, 2:24, 2:17, 2:20

2017 Graduates Continue Pursuits of Greatness in College

Elizabeth Galloway (distance) - University of Wisconsin Eau-ClaireJillian Hennig (multis) - Illinois State University​Molly Leeney (distance)- University of IowaBrooke Wilson (distance) - University of South Carolina

The Knights were back at it again and brought their "A" game to the MSL Conference Track & Field Championships at Conant on Friday. The Knights started off the day with some big points in the field events and the momentum carried onto the track. "It is never easy to win an MSL Championship but winning two in row speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication this group of athletes exhibits on a daily basis," said Coach Wintermute. "I couldn't be more proud of the way we rebuilt this lineup after losing a number of D1/D3 and Conf/Sectional champions from last season (Selep, Roman, Mason, Kendziera, Skudlarek).

Track & Field 2017 Begins on January 24, 2017 (Tuesday)

What you need:1) Active physical2) Athletic Permit completed with our athletic department3) A positive attitude and a desire to want to get better4) Running Shoes and clothes to be active in (Distance runners should have clothes to go outside, Sprinters/Throwers need athletic clothes)

Congrats to Dave Wurster on his induction into the ITCCCA Hall of Fame!!

Congratulations to Prospect great, Dave Wurster, on his induction into the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Dave lives and breaths the sports and it was his commitment to excellence that created at atmosphere of winning during his 30 years at Prospect HS. His unmatched love, passion, and drive for running perpetuated his teams and his coaching staff year in and year out to the top ranks of the State. Year after year the Knights could be seen in the IHSA State meet in their baby blue uniforms and it was this ability to reload year after year that signified his program of excellence. Please help me in congratulating Coach Dave Wurster (aka Moose) on his induction into the ITCCCA Hall of Fame.

The HallofFame Luncheon and acceptance speeches are on Saturday, January 14, 2017 from 1-3:30pm at the Westin in Lombard. Registration can either be mailed in or must be completed online by Jan 10th, 2017. Cost is $20 for the luncheon.

There will be no walk-in registration for the HallofFame Luncheon: You will MUST preregister to reserve a meal at the HallofFame Banquet. Registration for this and the clinic itself is available via both online and mail-in registration forms.

2013 XC Post-Season Video: A Tribute to Dave Wurster and his contributions to Prospect Cross Country

Support Prospect Girls XCTF and eat at Chipotle on Wed, November 16 from 4-9pm. 50% of the proceeds goes back to the program. Thanks and GO KNIGHTS!!

Brooke Wilson Commits to University of South Carolina. CONGRATS

Prospect Running Club Places 5th in the Open Race at Nike Cross Regionals (November 13, 2016)

Brooke Wilson Races to 5th Place at IHSA State Meet (November 5, 2016)

Knights Conclude Season at Waukegan Sectional with 6th place finish (October 29, 2016)

Solid Day at Busse as the Knights place 2nd at the IHSA Regional (October 22, 2016)

Dominating Performances at the Prospect Invite (October 18, 2016)

Varsity Takes 2nd at Peoria Invite (October 1, 2016)

The team keeps getting better! The Knights take 2nd place at the Peoria Invitational behind top 6 ranked DGS. We ran a solid race though some hoped for more. It is what we take away from this weekend that is most important.

​At Peoria the focus was on getting out through the 400, maintaining, and moving in the triangle and bringing it home. We had a great start and we moved okay in the triangle but there is still room to improve as we come past the 1.5 mile mark. We need to push the pack up in the 2nd half of the race while keeping the pack in ears shot of one another. One of the keys is focusing on little tasks at hand and staying engaged in the race and what is happening on the course. This will be a point of emphasis in the weeks ahead.

We ran a #1-5 split of 1:56 based off the #1 finisher Brooke Wilson. We ran a #1-7 split of 2:05. We ran a #2-5 split of 44sec.

PRs Galor at Niles West Invite (October 1, 2016)

With the Varsity top 7 in Peoria the rest of the Knights were off to Niles West to showcase the depth and talent of this team. And boy did they do that! The Knights came home with 3 trophies and many, many PRs in a rain soaked and muddy course at Niles.

In the F/S race, the Knights dominated the lead pack by placing 5 in the top 7 runners. The Knights finished with a team score of 24 points, YES 24 POINTS in an Invite and ran with toughness. The F/S were led by Skoufos, Hubbard, Zalesny, Heil, and Paliwoda and they placed 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7. They ran an INCREDIBLE 39 second split from #1-5!! Also placing in the top 25 were freshmen Piagari, Hindmand, and O'Malley. Great job ladies.

In the Varsity race, the Knights placed 3rd as the rain poured from the clouds. These girls PR'd all over the place and stepped up big as they toed the line and rain with pose and confidence. The Knights were led by sophomore Julia O'Grady who placed 10th overall running a blistering 18:57. And rounding out the scoring were Kitzmiller, Rouse, Heil, Galloway, Paczko, and Dircks. I couldn't be more proud of the way these girls have continued to push themselves in practice everyday and lead the team. Thank you!

In the JV race, the Knights placed 2nd as many runners got to participate in the muddiest and wettest race they have ever been a part of. This is CROSS COUNTRY, Embrace it, Enjoy it, and Run on!! The JV were led by Busby, Rishko, and Tapia who all placed in the top 25. What an amazing weekend for the Knights and a great step as we prepare for MSL in two weeks.

4 more W's at Tri Meet with BG and Wheeling (September 29, 2016)

Pack it up. The Knights packed it up against Wheeling and Buffalo Grove and focused on team running. In the Varsity race the Knights won comfortably over both Wheeling and BG the focus was on surging in particular portions of the race. The Knights were led by Valentini and Baltes who challenged each other all the way to the line. These two have some wheels.

Congrats to the Girls Cross Country team for their double wins over Wheeling and Buffalo Grove. The girls JV took 7 of the top 8 places in the meet and were led by Molly Heil, Kitzmiller, Skoufos, Hubbard, Paliwoda and Zalesny. This group continues to impress me each week as not only have they become our most improved. They also do a great job of working together, packing it up, and challenging each other to be a lil' better. Continue to dream and big things will happen. Congrats to all participants and good luck at Peoria and Niles this weekend.

The Varsity girls cross country bounced back nicely from the Thursday dual meet by placing 5th place at the Palatine Invite (only 7 points behind Hersey and 3 points behind Palatine). Even more impressive is that other girls stepped it up big time for the Knights as both Drew and Leeney were out of the varsity lineup. Today was a day about showing what the Knights are capable of and maybe Thursday was the jolt to the system this team needed. I am very impressed by their ability to work together and to step up when adversity is in their face. Leading the way for the Knights were Wilson 2nd, Valentini 31st, Baltes 36th, and Olsen 63rd.

Brooke Wilson ran her best race of the season and is ready to make her run in her senior year. The pace was out fast and after the mile, Brooke gathered herself and was right in the thick of the lead group. As Brooke came through the 2mile I could tell she was feeling it as she was moving to the front and ready to push the pace in the last mile. The strength of her racing is her ability to push it even more when it hurts. On Saturday some spirits were broken as the lead pack began to dissolve in the closing mile and Brooke was feeling it. In the closing 10m, Brooke was overtaken at the line and lost by 0.1 seconds to Lacy from Male HS in Kentucky. I am very proud of all the girls that layed it out there today at Deer Grove East.

The Fresh/Soph at the Palatine Invite placed 8th despite being short handed as the sickness bug hit our sophs this week. Cori Drew lead the F/S with by placing 7th and ran with the lead pack from the gun. Cori puts herself out there and will become a better runner because of this as she gains confidence and improves her closing speed. The JV placed 7th as a team at Palatine Invite by placing 3 runners in the top 25 (Leeney 4th, Rouse 21st, Kitzmiller 23rd). Awesome job and congrats to all the competitors.

Streak in the East Comes to an End vs. Hersey (September 22, 2016)

The Knights lost a hard fought battle to Hersey on the varsity by the score of 27-30 as the streak of consecutive MSL East Titles ends at 8. Leading the way for the Knights were a trio of seniors Wilson, White, and Leeney and sophomore Valentini. As a team we packed it up well early and controlled the race until the last 20m when our #2-4 runners were nipped at the line by Hersey's #4. It was a hard way to lose a race that I felt like we had controlled for the majority of the race but back to work we will go and for this we will be better. I couldn't be more proud of the seniors that stepped it up big time as we knew we had to be at our best to be Hersey and unfortunately today just wasn't our day. As one athlete said, "Would you rather win the East Division Title or an MSL Title" The Journey continues ...

In the JV race, the Knights were lead by freshmen Lia Skoufos as she blitzed the 2.5 mile course in 16:46 in a team loss of 18-37. We ran well in the first half of the race but we struggled to surge with the Hersey pack as they made their move in the last 1 mile. Still aspects of racing to work on and our JV squad will become deeper when we bring down some of the 12 girls in the varsity race. Best of luck this week to the Knights as they travel to Palatine Invite on Saturday.

Wear your "Blue" and come out and support the Knighthood of Runners as they face the Hersey Huskies for tops in the MSL East this Thursday.

​The Knights face Hersey next Thursday (Sept 22) at MacArthur MS as both the boys and the girls teams will be running for the right to call themselves the MSL East Champions. This is may end up being one of the biggest dual meets in the past decade as this meet not only holds significant impact on the girls program but also on the boys program. And it is against our Husky rivals. We are looking to get out as many classmates, parents, alumni, administration to help cheer the Knights to victory. We hope to see you there and GO KNIGHTS!! Race Time (** Times Tentative)Boys FS and Girls JV at 4:30**Boys Varsity at 5:00**Girls Varsity at 5:25

Tight Team Splits the Key to Successes at Libertyville (September 17, 2016)

The Knights travelled to Adler Park in Libertyville as they look to improve upon last week's performances at Lake Park. The Knights ran with some fire today as 21 girls came home with ribbons/medals.

In the F/S race, the Knights battled a tough New Trier squad a pulled out a 48-51 team victory with the final push in the last 400m. It was a battle from the start as both teams moved nicely after the 1 mile and from there on it was going to come down to the difference of a few in head to head competition. With 400m, I was shot with a bolt of confidence as I cheered for the Knights when Paula Paliwoda (7th) came by in a pack of 6-11 place and gave me the thumbs up and a big ole' smile. With that I knew the Knights would be dropping points in their team score and would nearly all but secure a team victory. Lia Skoufos (5th) and Emily Hubbard (9th) had good kicks and also moved up in the last 800m. Lora Zalesny (13th) and Kendall O'Malley (14th) maintained their positions and assured the Knights a victory. Others placing in the top 30 and receiving awards were Maggie Heil (23rd) and Sarah Hindmand (25th). Placing 7 runners in the top 25 is quite an accomplishment and speaks to the depth of this F/S team (Note: 4 sophomores are also on varsity). #1-5 split was 35 sec, #1-7 split was 77sec

In the Varsity race, the Knights placed a respectable 2nd as a team but were beaten up front by Lockport in the last 800m. We got back a little early and struggled to move up like we needed to in the 2nd mile. With that said we still had Lockport on the ropes and were within striking distance at the 2.5mile mark (Team Score at the 2.5mile mark: Prospect 34 and Lockport 32) but we let it slip away and lost by 10points to Lockport. Lessons learned and something this team will need to improve upon in the coming weeks. Overall it was a solid week for the Knights with some big workouts and solid racing but all in all this is preparation for the bigger successes in October/November. In the varsity race, the Knights placed 7 in the top 20 and were lead by Wilson (1st), Valentini (5th), Baltes (8th), Leeney (13th), Drew (16th), O'Grady (19th), and Olsen (20th). The Knights ran a tight split (#2-7 29sec and #1-5 80sec) and now we focus on moving the pack forward, closing in the last 800m, and continuing to build our confidence.

In the Open race, the Knights took control of the race after the 1mile mark and took the top 4 places. These girls ran with confidence as they broke away from St. Ursula (Cincinnati) and ran to a Team Championship with a staggering 18 points. On almost any other team at this meet these girls would have been running inside other teams' top 7. I am very proud of how these girls fuel our team and continue to progress. Keep up the good work and continue to dream. #1-4 Split 20sec, #1-5 split 66sec

It was a day of many many 3mile PRs and lots of ribbons and hardware. Thanks to all those that came out to celebrate the Libertyville Picnic and a special thanks to the moms and dads that made it happen. We had over 200 people in attendance and it was a great way to cap off a fine day.

A special shout out to Lisa White and Christy Crocker for representing the Knights in the Coaches/Parents 2mile race. Next year we aim for a bigger turnout.

Double Wins Over Elk Grove (September 15, 2016)

The Knights beat Elk Grove on the Varsity level by a score of 19-44. After a tough workout day on Tuesday, the Knights were amped up and ready to prove themselves on Thursday. The Varsity completed a double tempo workout/race on Thursday which challenged them both mentally and physically and they executed the plan. This was proof a their mental toughness and confidence and they rocked it. This is the type of attitude and commitment that we need to bring on a daily basis. PASSION AND INTENSITY.

In the JV race, the Knights placed 13 runners prior to Elk Grove's #1 runner and won by a perfect score of 15-50. The JV were led by Lora Zalesny who continues to improve week after week as a front runner. A number of girls ran lifetime bests on 2.5 mile course and with that said they even did it on the difficult Melas course.

Fast Times at Lake Park (September 10, 2016)

During a morning of drizzles, the Knights cruised through loops on Lake Park's East Campus. The Knights left the invite with a team plaque (Open) and number of PRs and medals.

Despite being shorthanded in the varsity race, the Knights rose to the challenge and claimed 5th place as a team. The race plan was to get out early and trust your fitness. The Knights did exactly that and finished with 4 runners placing in the top 34. The Knights were led by Wilson in 4th place, Baltes in 17th place, Drew in 32nd place, and Olsen in 34th place. Drew (29sec improvement) and Olsen (12sec improvement) just missed out on the awards but both were much better than last year and will continue to progress this season after very solid summer training. Next week at Libertyville Invite and Team Picnic we will bring out top 7 to the table.

In the JV race, the Knights were led by O'Grady (2nd place), Kitzmiller (12th), Galloway (14th), Maggie Heil (35th), and Paula Paliwoda (37th), Lia Skoufos (39th), Dircks (70th), Paczko (73rd), and Tapia (90th). The Knights were just out of the team awards with a 4th place team finish. The girls continue to improve and it has been amazing to see the change in team dynamics as we had a slew of girls that asked to run 3.0 miles at Lake Park instead of bowing out to the short 2.0 mile Open race. It goes to show that when you put in the work to get fit you are able to step up your game and get excited about doing what is more difficult. My hat goes off to these girls! Great leadership!!

In the Open race (2.0 miles), the Knights raced to a 3rd place finish behind a strong group of freshmen and new additions to the team. The Knights attacked the opening 400m and never looked back. We had 5 runners in the top 25 and many, many impressive 2mile PRs. Many runners improved their 2mile times from our earlier season by 1-2 minutes. Awesome job! Leading the Knights was a break through performance by Lora Zalesny (5th place) who continues to impress. She was closely followed behind by Emily Hubbard (6th), Kendall O'Malley (14th), Sarah Hindmand (20th), and Gabriella Piagari (25th). This group ran a #1-5 split of 49 seconds and show many signs of promise for the season ahead. Reset you GOALS, and keep working hard. GO KNIGHTS!!

Packing It Up over Rolling Meadows (September 8, 2016)

The Varsity rolled to a comfortable 15-49 victory over sister-school and East Rival, Rolling Meadows. The race plan was to pack it up and focus on the last 800m. The paced slipped a bit in the middle and then picked up again in the last mile. Finding your groove and continuing to maintain is something we will continue to work on in the coming weeks.

In the JV race, the Knights scored a perfect victory of 15-50 as we placed 7 runners in front of Rolling Meadow's #1 runner. Outstanding run by Mary Paczko as she got out and moved up nicely to secure the perfect score victory. The Knights ran a nice tight split 24sec for their #1-4 runners and a 66 sec split for the #1-7 runners.

Tiebreakers the difference at Fenton Invite (September 3, 2016)

The Knights placed 3rd in the varsity losing on a tie-breaker, 3rd in the Open race, and won the tie-breaker on the F/S to take 2nd place. It is amazing to think that with the scoring of 5 athlete on nearly 25 teams that the scores can be that close, but they are and that is why every place/point matters. One more athlete you can surge in front of may be the difference maker at the end of the day.

In the Varsity race, the Knights were lead by Brooke Wilson as she retained the traveling trophy as the individual champion of the Fenton Invite. Brooke looked relaxed early and made a nice move to string it out with 1.5 miles to go. The team pack of Leeney, Valentini, Drew, Olsen was a bit of a ways back and it showed in our team score. Though we ran a 30sec split for #2-5 runners we know we need to work on holding positions in the middle of the race and cutting down the 1:55 split from 1-5 . Molly Leeney continues to improve as she ran over a minute faster than last year at this time. Our focus is on staying patient and working on little improvements week by week.

In the F/S race, the Knights were lead by a solid 1-2 punch of sophomores Baltes (7th place) and O'Grady (6th place) but the highlight of this race was the surprising performances by many newcomers to the team. The F/S finished with a 88 second split from runners 1-5. Freshmen, Lia Skoufos, blazed the back end of the course and ran herself into 12th place as she finished as our 3rd runner on the day which was a surprise to many and she is only going to get better. The "Newbies" of Paula Paliwoda (so), Emily Hubbard (fr), Kendall O'Malley (fr) finished in the top 6 for the Knights. Be on the lookout for them in the weeks to come. Rounding out the top 7 were a much improved Maggie Heil (so) and Lora Zalesny (so) both of whom were over 2minutes better than last year. This is a tribute to the hard work they put in this summer. Keep up the good work!!

The day was capped off by a 3rd place finish in the Open race. As the temperatures rose the Knights came out of the gates on fire. The Knights placed 3 runners in the top 10: Kitzmiller (2nd), Galloway (4th), and Damerjian (10th). Rounding out the scoring was Mary Paczko and Faith Dircks both of which are significantly improved from last year and are names you will continue to hear of this season.

Congrats to all the girls on a great first weekend at Fenton and remember your season is not defined by one race but rather the continual progression of our season as a whole. One week at a time, one meet at a time, one day at a time. WIN THE DAY!!

Knights Run to 2 wins vs. Conant (August 30, 2016)

The Knights kicked off the season versus Conant on Tuesday at Melas Park. The Knights comfortably ran to victory as they placed 13 runners before Conant #1. This year's JV team is quite deep and is lead by a number of returnees and a slew of talented Freshmen. Winning the JV race was sophomore, Maggie Heil, as she narrowly edged out senior, Brittany Damerjian, in a kick.

On the varsity side, the Knights packed it up and worked on some mid-race surging. The Knights were lead by the 1-2 punch of Leeney and Wilson and were followed by Drew, Olsen, Rouse, Valentini, Heil, and Galloway. It was a great to get back on the course and the team is excited about the weekend ahead. Fenton Invite on Saturday!

XC Fundraiser: Tumblers for $20

Interested in supporting Prospect HS Cross Country?This season the team is selling Tumblers for $20 (Prospect image or pick a professional team). Please contact any girl on the team or send me an email to place your order. pete.wintermute@d214.org

XC 2016 Starts on Aug 10th at 8am

The start of the 2016 Cross Country season is upon us. First day of practice is August 10th at 8am at the Prospect Track.You need to be have:1) an active physical (check with Mrs. Walter on Mon/Tues with ?s)2) registered for school3) watch and running attireLooking forward to a historic run this season, GO KNIGHTS!!Email pete.wintermute@d214.org with questions.RUN, FIGHT, WIN KNIGHTS!!

Brooke Place 25th at Footlocker Midwest (Nov. 29, 2015)

Brooke place 25th at Footlocker Midwest running 18:27. She put herself in good position early and made significant improvements from last season. This was a learning experience for her and back to the drawing board as she chases the XC runner's dream as the 7th returning athlete for next year.

Brooke walks away from her last XC race as a junior holding her head high as she became one of the most improved runners I have ever coached. She went from 24th at the 2014 IHSA State XC (17:19) to 3rd at the 2015 IHSA State XC Meet (16:34). She was a race champion at all but three regular season meets she attended. She won Fenton, Libertyville, runner-up Palatine, Peoria, MSL Conf, Regionals, Sectionals and 3rd at State. WOW!! A true testament to an incredible work ethic and an internal drive second to none. Congratulations Brooke on an outstanding season.

Coach Wurster with the aid of some parents took 17 members of the Prospect Running Club to Terre Haute. A special thanks to the parents that gave up their weekend to help the girls experience this amazing opportunity. The varsity team placed 19th in the championship race and were lead by Brooke Wilson in 9th just a few seconds out of qualifying for NXN. As a team we beat a few teams that were in the top 20 at the IHSA State meet and we closed the gaps on others but more importantly the girls go out their for one more race. All of what they are doing is in preparation for next year as we return 13 of our top 15. Set your goals and today begins the journey.

While in the open race the Knights placed a respectable 20th place with Kaitlyn Rouse (soph) leading the way in 20:34.

Fast times at the end of the season in the 1600m TT (Nov. 10, 2015)

he end of the season 1600m Time Trial is here. The girls are fit and this is a the capper to a fine season. The girls have achieved their highest levels of fitness and it was time to get out there and run more PRs. The the 1600m is an opportunity to rip it up on the track, to assess fitness, and gives us a comparison to past XC/TF and the future.

On the Thursday after the Prospect Invite (JV TT) 14 of 20 girls ran PRS on the 1600m TT

The week after the IHSA State meet in preparation for Nike Cross Regionals we ran an amazing 13 of 15 PRS in the 1600m TT. 14 girls on our team ran 5:40 or better this season. SIMPLY AMAZING and a credit to all the hard work the girls put in. A job well done and this is when you know your training works.

Brooke Wilson was sensational. She executed the race plan to perfection and surged where she had to surge. She came through the mile in 5:18, and the 2mile in 10:52, and brought it home in 3rd place running 16:34. I couldn’t be more proud of Brooke and her gutsy performance. She laid it out there and made a huge move in the triangle which separated her from the rest of the field. It hurt at the end but as Mike Eaken loves from her quote from earlier in the season, “if I don’t make it hurt coach will be mad at me.” It was a tough last 100m and it was her mental toughness and fortitude that carried her to the finish line and brought a huge smile. Brooke Wilson ran the 15th fastest time ever at the IHSA State meet for any class girl (A, AA, AAA) and holds the #1 time by any girl from the MSL. This is a true testament to her preparation and the culmination of all of her accomplishments this season. I am so proud of Brooke and I anxiously await what she will do this season on the track and next year in XC.

Chipotle Fundraiser on Wed, Nov 18

Not Our Best Day - 6th at Sectionals (Oct. 31, 2015)

​Today was not our day. The Knights placed 6th at the IHSA Sectional at Busse Woods and ended up 28 points out of a trip to Peoria. We had a 1-5 split of over two minutes and we struggled to move up in the middle of the race at our surge spots. Today we failed to execute our race plan and unfortunately it was the wrong day to have a bad day.

I knew watching the race that we had not run our best race but I am still shocked that it was not enough. We put 3 in the top 23 (Wilson 1st, White 19th, and O'Grady 23rd) but we struggled to close the scoring. As I walked back to the bus after seeing the scoring I looked for the right thing to say to our team and ... There was nothing. On a day like today, there is nothing you can tell your team that has put their heart and soul into each other that makes it any more comforting. BUT one day does not define the success and successes of our team this season. No one can take away the amazing accomplishments that this group of young ladies achieved this season (Peoria Invite champs, MSL Conference Champions, IHSA Regional Champions, and so many more). And for that I am very, very proud of this team. They are an amazing group and I am proud of to be their Coach.

As I looked at the tears on the girls faces, I knew it hurt and it hurt bad but how we deal with this adversity is what will define this team for next year and years to come. We will bounce back and we will be even stronger, faster, and more fit. GO FIGHT, WIN KNIGHTS!!

CONGRATS TO IHSA SECTIONAL CHAMPION BROOKE WILSON (2nd girl in school history, Brooke Wolfe won 3 in a row). Today, Brooke Wilson ran a confident race and as she moved up on the race leader she found the strength and confidence to do what she does so well. Hammer it with 400m out and with that she ran away to a 7 second victory over Caitlin Shepard of Lake Zurich. Congrats to Brooke and on to Peoria next week. Let's get it done, GO KNIGHTS!!

IHSA Regional CHAMPS!! (Oct 24, 2015)

The day may have been overcast to start and lot of rain but as the Knights rallied in the last mile sunny, blue skies filled the air. The Knights executed the race plan which was to settle back and focus on moving up in the last 1.75 miles of the race. Coming off an emotional win at MSL Conference the team wanted to settle down early and work together in miles 2 and 3. Brooke Wilson and Aileen White led the charge with confidence and relentless focus and commitment. These two have have been consistent all season and are focused on what the team most needs. The IHSA Regional Champion was Brooke Wilson and also earning all-regional honors was Aileen White in 4th place. This is a huge accomplishment as only two other times in school history has Prospect had 2 of the 5 Regional medalists.

On Saturday, the junior duo of Brooke and Aileen lead a pack of 3 freshmen to the finish (O'Grady, Baltes, and Drew) and with a 1:58 split it was good for the win on this day. Schaumburg fought hard early and gave a few fans a scare but our move after the mile moved Julia O'Grady and Aileen White into the top 6 while Jenna Baltes was fighting for the top 10. These low scores would prove essential to win a smaller field meet and would land Prospect on the top of the podium. Not to be outdone was freshmen, Cori Drew (20th) who stepped into the lineup after running the FS race at MSL and ran the race that would secure our team score and help us squeak out a 42-45 win over Schaumburg. Mikayla Olsen (22nd) and Veronica Holloway (37) would round out the Knights top 7.Congrats to all of the girls on a job well done and I am so proud to coach this amazing team. Winning the Regional title is outstanding and has only been done 3 other times in school history. Enjoy the moment and Monday be ready to get back to work as there is still work to be done. Next week at Sectionals, the team will focus on improving the 1-5 split and 1-7 split and we all need to close a bit better in the final 800m as every place can determine next week's outcome. Congrats and GO KNIGHTS!!

1600m Time Trial (Oct 22, 2015)

﻿To conclude the JV season there is alway one last test of an athlete's fitness and that needs to be explored and that is the 1600m Time Trial. Last year we had 16 of 23 PRs and this year we saw even more improvement with another 16 of 23 PRs. Leading the charge and winning in an amazing time of 5:36 was Elizabeth Galloway (6 sec PR) and soon to be called Mrs. October.

Prospect Invite - JV Pride!! (Oct. 20, 2015)

Congrats to the Knights on their first place team finish at the Prospect Invite. The Knights dominated the competition taking the top 5 places and placing 13 in the top 35. Running to victory was Kaitlyn Rouse in 1st who made a nice move after the 1.25 mile to seize the lead and never looked back. Elizabeth Galloway was 2nd and continues to be red hot in the month of October. Molly Heil 3rd, Molly Leeney 4th and Sydney Kitzmiller 5th. Other medalists were: Kate Permanian, Mary Paczko, Alex Ekiert, Maggie Heil, Cassidy Selep, Wilma Rishko, Gabi Tapia, Jacqueline Galliano, and Sanworlee Nyain. A score of 15 at an invite is one heck of an accomplishment. Awesome job ladies and GO KNIGHTS!!

A Day to Remember! ​MSL Conference Champs (Oct. 17, 2015)

Wow what a day it was!! A huge thanks to all those that made this day possible: the parents, alumni, the Prospect community, coaches, and athletes. Today was a win for the PROGRAM!! MSL Champions for the 3rd time in school history!!

The F/S set the tone for us on this day by placing 4 in the top 24 and rallied the team to a 4th place finish. This is quite an accomplishment considering we have 3 freshmen and a sophomore in our varsity. They attacked the course early and it was this race that got the ball rolling for the rest of the day. The FS was team was lead by Cori Drew (fr) who got out to a lead early and held on for 5th place while Kaitlyn Rouse ran herself into the top 12. The F/S scoring rounded out with 3 new additions this season to the team. Sydney Kitzmiller with a new toe ran to 16th place and shows she just gets better and better each week. Aryana Horton was 24th place and a well earned All-Conference award. The tone had been set and next up was the varsity race.

The varsity was focused all week and was coming off two weeks of great workouts. Despite resting our #2 runner, the team was focused and inspired to run a bit faster for Marissa. As the gun sounded the Knights were off and in a position to strike. At the 1mile mark we had 5 in the top 27 (1, 17, 18, 20, 27) and then it was time to make a move and at the 2mile all of our athletes had moved up significantly and the hunt was on (1, 12, 19, 22, 23). As each athlete flew by me with 600m to go I knew we were running well and the finish was going to decide the champions on the day. Brooke Wilson was battling it hard for 1st with Palatine's Kelly O'Brien, and would pull away from the defending conference champ in the last 100m with one last gut wrenching and heart-willed surge. It hurt but the smile on her face told the story, it was well worth every bit. Victory for Brooke turned into elation as she turned around to see each of her teammates bringing it home. Aileen White would move from 11th to 8th in this stretch and would be a difference maker. Freshmen Julia O'Grady was huge for us today. She was clicking on all cylinders and as she charged home in 15th I was thinking, "this little freshmen is the real deal." Jenna Baltes (fr) and Mikayla Olsen (so) would equally open some eyes and they would maintain key positions (18th and 24th respectively) in the final 600m and lock in a team score of 66. Five all conference runners and a team score of 66 was an amazing day and on this day would be enough to upset Barrington (68 pts) and Palatine (85pts) for the 3rd MSL Championship in Prospect history.

Today during those 19minutes at Heritage Park each athlete was pushed and challenged to be GREAT. Each of them took the bull by the horns and with a lot of guts, determination, and relentless confidence in each other they brought home an MSL Championship. I am so proud of these girls and every girl on our team for their tremendous efforts today and I know that come Monday we will be back to work as we prepare for the IHSA Regionals.

The day only got sweeter as the JV stepped to the course. As I walked up to the jr/srs (the leaders and inspiration of our team), they looked at meet and said, "did they win?" When they heard the news, confident emotions filled their bodies and they were focused and ready to create their own successes. As the gun sounded and the race progressed, Lizzy Galloway and Veronica Holloway paired up and Cassidy Selep and Brittany Damerjian packed up early and we had 4 in the top 7 at the 2 mile mark. Just before the 2mile Veronica Holloway, would make a confident move that would separate herself from the field. She would build as big as a 19 second lead and came home as champion of the JV race by over 13 seconds. There is no better way to walk away as a senior than having the best race of your career at the MSL Conf meet and as a champion. Lizzy Galloway (soph) was firing on all cylinders and showed she is a force to be reckoned with as she finished in 4th place. Cassidy Selep (sr) and Brittany Damerjian (jr) would also have their best races of their careers scored 6th and 7th place respectively. Rounding out our team scoring was Shannon Smith (sr, 1st year member) would would run a 1:30 second PR and solidify the team scoring for the Knights and a 2nd place team finish. The JV were equally as impressive as the varsity as they ran 8 for 8 PRs for 3 mile races and showed the depth and strength of our team.

Today was a total team effort and honors well earned. A special thanks to the Seniors on a fantastic day and for the building the tradition, leadership, and confidence that carried our team today! GO KNIGHTS!!

Prospect Prance (Oct. 12, 2015)

2015 Prance Pictures are located in the dropdown menu called "Media"2015 Prance Results are located in the dropdown menu "Camps/Races"

Thanks for all of you who turned out for the 9th Annual ProspectPrance! The day was blessed with gorgeous weather and the attendance of Cammy and her friend, Emmy, only added to the excitement of the day. With nearly 120 participants and two course records it was a day to be remembered and the energy that all of you brought was contagious.

A special thanks to the Prospect Girls Cross Country team for their amazing work and my wife and family for always being there to support the cause. Also a special thanks to Cammy and her family for their attendance to the event. You have lit a fire for so many and you have become a constant reminder to live every moment and to be thankful for what you have. You are an inspiration to our team and we believe that one day "Cammy Can."

And lastly, a special thanks to all the parents and kids that attended today's event as without your help and support promoting the event it would not be what this race has become today. Please pass the word on for 2016 ProspectPrance which will be held on Columbus Day, October 10, 2016, at 9:30am.

The 2016 ProspectPrance will be held on Columbus Day, October 10, 2016, at 9:30am. Mark in down in your calendars today.

Lemons for Love 5K (water station #1)October 11, 2015

A special thanks to all the girls that got up early and came out to to support the Lemons for Love 5K in Mount Prospect. It is an awesome organization that helps to make Lemons for Love baggies for chemo patients. Great weather, great racing, and well feed afterwards.

Congrats to Annette White for being the overall winner and Lisa Cottrell who is working her way back into PR form. And a special thanks to Mrs. Baltes for feeding the girls after the race. GO KNIGHTS!

Running Away vs. Chasing Down​Rabbit Run 2015 (Oct 10, 2015)

After the IESA Sectional at South Middle School it was show time between five highly charged teams to face off in our intersquad meet. The distance was approximately 2miles and athletes started at varying intervals based upon their expected 2mile time. The race was on as some athletes were running away to stay away will others were hunting down the field and passing in storms as they moved up the ranks.

In the end, it was Julia O'Grady that chased down the field and ran to victory in the final 150m over Diana. Diana Leguer got the lead early and saw the early lead she had established closing down as the chase was on and nearly held off for victory but had to settle for 2nd prize. Brittany Damerjian and Emily Cavanagh also ran exceptional races to finish 3rd and 4th respectively.

In the team race it was a battle between Team Swag and The Clashers but in the end it was Team Swag that walked away with a 5 point victory. Captain Caeley McDonagh had her team charged up and once again it was Mary Paczko who rallied to be the number 5 runner for Team Swag and locked down the victory.

Great job to all the competitors and it was exciting to see 28 runners finish within 60 seconds of the #1 finisher. Closing down our team split 1-5 and 1-7 will become an important piece of our team successes in the coming weeks. GO KNIGHTS!!

2015 Prospect Homecoming (Girls XC)

These girls do dress up nicely. Awesome Prospect Homecoming weekend!

MSL East Division Champs (Oct 8, 2015)

On Thursday, the Knights took down Rolling Meadows and Loyola Academy for the MSL East Division Title. The Knights go out controlled and surge to the front after the mile mark. They never looked back and ran to a convincing victory and another MSL East Division Championship. The varsity team was undefeated in the MSL East and they prepare the MSL West foes this weekend at the MSL Championships at Heritage Park.

In the JV race, it took 2-3 gutsy performances in the last 1/2 mile to pull out a JV victory over Rolling Meadows. At the 2mile mark, it was a one point battle and I was focused on getting our #5 to close the door and bring us home to victory. It was Mary Paczko who would be our #5 on this day and it was her surge in the last 1/2 mile that was the difference maker. She not only passed one girl but rather passed two Mustangs and sealed the victory for the Knights. Meanwhile upfront Molly Heil and Veronica Holloway did their own part and also moved up to create a bit more lop sided victory than what it looked like on the course.

Young girls reading and watching the race, this is what confidence and experience is all about. This is why you work hard every day and at everything you do; preparing for that moment when you get it unleash it and it brings you immediate jubilation.

Peoria Highlights (Oct 3, 2015)

On Saturday morning, cloudy skies filled the air but as race time approach the rays of the sun began to break through and brighten the day. The Knights were poised all morning and were like sledding dogs thirsty to get running. As the gun fired the Knights blasted out of the gate and surged to the front putting all 7 runners in the top 30 at the 1/2 mile mark. They cruised through the mile mark as they found each other and prepared to rally in the triangle. As I watched the race unfold, I knew today could be a special day and my confidence rose even higher as I watched sophomore phenom, Mikayla Olsen step out of the conservative zone and begin hunting down the jerseys ahead. Mikayla would go on to run a nearly 1 minute PR and sealed the deal as our 5th runner in 22nd place and a Knights' victory.

Today, the Knights raced with fire, hunger, and feed off the many successes of their teammates. Brooke Wilson lead from start to finish to win the race in convincing fashion winning by nearly 50 seconds (16:50 - 2nd fastest at Detweiler in school history). Or at least not until the end when she turned to see freshmen, Marissa Valentini (3rd- 17:40) closing in on 2nd place, Megan Biddle of Hoffman Estates. Though she ran out of real estate the seed had been planted and Marissa next time will know where to find that next gear. Marissa dropped a 50 second PR and is beginning to feel the "magic."

Aileen White is the glue of the pack. She moved up all race and ran to 8th place (17:58) after starting back in 24th early in the race. She surged where she needed to and looked confident all the way through the tape. Thank you Coach White for finding some motivation for your lil' sis. Jenna Baltes earned 11th place (18:09) and was simply estatic after hearing the news of a Knights victory. She is our little fire cracker and carries the swagger of a feisty veteran. Thanks for igniting this team.

​Today we enjoyed our best 1-5 split (1:40) and our 6th and 7th runners were the best of the field which is something to be proud of. Not only do we have a solid 1-5 our 1-7 today was awesome and the best at the meet. We are not a team of 5 we are a team of 40. We celebrate in each other's successes and are thankful for the teammates that push us to reach our potential.

Freshmen, Julia O'Grady, ran 18:48 and learned a lot from this trip. She put herself in the race early but struggled to move at our surge spots. She walked away from Detweiler hungry for more and knowing that next time it will be a different story. Cori Drew continues to shine and as the best 7th runner in the meet she continues to improve week by week. This week she ran 19:06 which is another 25 seconds improvement off last week. Inch by inch and week by week we continue to improve and that is the name of the game.

I am so proud of all the girls that competed today and walking away with a team championship and 7 PRs is a special day. Today was our coming out party and is a day to remember. Store these memories in a safe place and then move on from it. The smiles that lit up your faces upon hearing the Knights had won the Peoria Invite is why what sacrifice all the hours, days, weeks, and months. We dedicate ourselves to the team and entrust ourselves with one another knowing that the journey through the ups and downs is well worth the ride together. But with that being said come Monday it is back to work as we prepare for bigger moments later in the season. The focused energy, and confident swagger that set the tone for this meet has to be reset and brought back to the table as we prepare to win the MSL Division on Thursday at Melas Park versus Rolling Meadows.

Niles Highlights (Oct. 3, 2015)

The JV tore it up at the Niles West Savage Invite on Saturday! While most other teams were dancing to the music in the warm and crowded field house, our team was setting up the tent and warming up for a serious day of racing. Our Frosh/Soph girls led off the barrage of PR's for the day with Kaitlyn Rouse leading the entire race and winning handily with a time of 19:57. The rest of the crew followed in suit, running PR's all over the place! Aleks Ekiert, who worried that morning about racing three miles, took advice and encouragement from her coach and teammates and had an outstanding race. Her pride and smiles were contagious to the rest of the team for the rest of the day! Next up was our Varsity, led by Molly Leeney who ran a great race, kept herself in great position up front and never gave up. She ran a 19:20 for our fastest race of the day and a PR to boot! The rest of our varsity were finishing up on the track soon afterwards and our team split from 1-5 was a mere 1:24--awesome job, girls! The JV kept the PR's rolling with a smiling Kate Permanian running a 14:00 flat for the 2 mile race! The JV just kept on coming and they were all in under 16:43--so many great races and it was a proud day for all! Getting great news from the Peoria crew was just the icing on the cake and we finished our racing day sharing positives in our team stretch circle. Though the squad was split for racing on Saturday, we were united in our support for each other and our pride in each other's great accomplishments

Prospect packs it up against Wheeling and BG and runs away with 4 wins (Oct. 1, 2015)

​Congrats to the Knights as they picked up four more wins on Thursday at Melas Park. The JV team posted two perfect score victories over the visiting Wheeling Wildcats and BG Bison. The JV was lead by Molly Leeney who also broke her old course record in the process and placed and was followed by 9 fellow Knights as they took the top 10 places in the race. Great team effort!In the Varsity competition the Knights were lead by Marissa Valentini who took top honors and lead the Knights to two convincing wins. The veterans executed the race plan as they surged from 1/2 mile to 1/2mile. Great work for all those that participated and congrats to all those who best their previous best on the Melas course. Best of luck this weekend as the Knights prepare for the Peoria Invite and the Niles West Invite. GO KNIGHTS!!

Ups and Downs at Palatine Invite (Sept. 26, 2015)

The Palatine Invite was a meet of ups and downs. The F/S started the day dropping a close battle with LT. A fantastic 2nd place team finish was earned behind the efforts of race champion, Jenna Baltes, 3rd place finish Julia O'Grady, 8th place Mikayla Olsen, 16th Kaitlyn Rouse and a seasonal performance by Sydney Kitzmiller in 37th place. The FS continue to impress and prepare for a battle next week with BG and Wheeling and at the Niles Invite.The Varsity were lead by Brooke Wilson who took home 2nd place honors but was unable to shake Isabella S. from Stevenson. Brooke pushed the pace in the 2nd half of the race. The race speed up after the 1.5mile mark but on this day even running a 5:35 last mile was not enough. Cori Drew (fr) stepped up huge in the varsity race, she took it to the course in the early going and ran her best race of the season. As a whole the varsity showed a lack of poise in the early going and struggled to move up in the 2nd half of the race. We need to improve upon this. In practice this will we are going to focus on long tempo running and running in the uncomfortable zone. Racing is about challenging one's self limits and break through barriers and the ones that can run on the "edge" and avoid settling run to PRs and personal satisfaction.In the JV race, Veronica Holloway and Lizzy Galloway lead the way . Veronica capped off the week with another great race and continues to improve and looks to lead the Knights at Niles. Great job to all the girls and next up Wheeling/BG on Thursday and split squad invites Peoria/Niles. GO KNIGHTS!!

Knights cruise to 2 victories over Elk Grove (Sept. 24, 2015)

The JV team ran to a perfect score victory (15-50) over Elk Grove taking the top 7 spots and put 10 runners in the top 13. Kaitlyn Rouse went out just off the top FS boys and continued to hunt them down as she ran an outstanding 13:05. Aryana Horton and Lora Zalesny enjoyed their first HS XC race and look to build off their first performance in the weeks ahead. In the Varsity race, packing it up was the plan and staying under control early. At the 2mile mark, the Knights made their move and closed in 6:12-6:22 taking places 4-11 to seal the victory. This weekend the Knights head to the Palatine Invite and next week back to Melas vs. BG and Wheeling on Thursday. GO KNIGHTS!!

After arriving at Alder Park the Knights knew this was going to be a race day to remember. The course was littered with standing water and a splash of mud. By the 5th race of the day the puddles had turned from puddles to mud but that did not deter the Knights from a great day. The Knights started the rain soaked Libertyville/Adler course with the F/S race. In the F/S race, Kaitlin Rouse (4th) and Cori Drew (2nd) set the tone as they went to the front of the race and control the pace from the get go. Sydney Kitzmiller continues to shine in her first XC season and earned 14th place honors. Syd was closely followed by Mary Paczko and Maggie Heil who sealed the scoring for the Knights and a third place team finish. In the varsity race, the Knights took 4th place as a team and were lead by Brooke Wilson (1st), Marissa Valentini (6th) and Aileen White (10th). As a varsity team we still need to work on closing the gap between 1 to 2 and the gap between our 5 to 6/7. This team can do some amazing things this season once we put all the pieces together. Keep working hard and focus on improving each week individually. The Open race was highlighted by the muddiest conditions as the athletes slide around turns and tromped through muddy puddles. A day of racing took a toll on the course and the Open race was left to enjoy some European racing. In the JV race the Knights placed 2nd as a team placing 5 runners in the top 25. Congrats to Lizzy Galloway (7th), Molly Heil (8th), Cassidy Selep (13th), V-Ron Holloway (16th) and Amanda Page (22nd). Congrats to all the girls on a fantastic day. In the parent/coaches race the showdown between Coach White and Coach Hodges was set to be launched. Coach White carries with her a arsenal of accomplishments and the experience of a wise old veteran at Adler Park. As the gun signaled the start of the race she comfortable ran on Coach Hodges' tail for the first mile (6:34) before pulling away and cruising to a 12:59. Thanks to all the parents that came out and ran (Mrs. Galloway, Mr. McDonagh, Mr. Smith, Mr. Drew, Mr. Denny) and next year we aim to bring the numbers. Mark your calendars and start your training now for the 2016 2mile Libertyville Parent race (call the White's if you need some motivation, 2016 is their year).A huge shout out to Mrs. Lussenhop on a amazing Picnic. The spread was amazing and the weather was in our favor as sunny skies cleared a gloomy morning. GO KNIGHTS!!

Big Day as the Knights run to PRs at Lake Park Invite (Sept. 17, 2015)

The Knights started off the day with a 4th place finish in the girls Varsity race. Brooke Wilson lead the way with a 3rd place finish and was followed by Marissa Valentini who in her first varsity race earned 17th place honors. Just on her heels were Aileen White who continues to shine in the invites and finished in 19th place. Rounding out the top 5 were Mikayla Olsen running a lifetime best of 19:20 and Molly Leeney running a best of 19:28. Brittany Damerjian and Molly Heil also ran PRs in the varsity race both breaking 20:30. Awesome job ladies!In the JV race, the Knights placed 2nd as a team and placed 5 runners in the top 23. Leading the way and running to victory was Jenna Baltes who had the company of a teammate, Julia O'Grady, until the last 300m. Both athletes ran sub 19:00 minutes and look great doing so. After the 1-2 punch came Cori Drew who ran 19:30 (6th place) while Kaitlin Rouse and Elizabeth Galloway rounded out the scoring for the Knights (and both ran PRS and broke 21minutes). In the Open race, Sydney Kitzmiller ran to the front and lead the Knights with a 6th place finish and ran with the confidence of a veteran while Maggie Heil put in a race for the ages finishing in 28th place. The other big-time highlight was Caeley McDonagh completing her first high school race. As she approached the start line nervous energy surged through her body but as the gone went off the competitive juices took control and the racing began. The days of aches and pains washed from her body as she celebrated a sub-16min performance and she was overcome with hugs from all around. Well done Caeley and thanks for all that you do. Welcome to Prospect XC, YOU ROCK!!

The Prospect Girls XC team defeated Hersey on the JV level by taking the top four spots. Damerjian, Rouse, and Heil lead the way and Molly Leeney ran a blistering 16:35 to set the course record on her way to victory. On the Varsity level the Knights won placing all 7 runners in the top 9. Leading the way were outstanding performances by the Fab Four: Valentini, O'Grady, Baltes, and Drew and individual winner Brooke Wilson. Good luck as the Knights head to Lake Park this weekend. GO KNIGHTS!!

Brooke Wilson and F/S are Champions at Fenton Invite (Sept. 5, 2015)

Congrats to the Girls Cross Country team at the Fenton Invitational this past weekend. The F/S team won the meet scoring just 34 points and placed 5 runners in the top 20. The F/S were lead by Marissa Valentini 2nd, Jenna Baltes 3rd, Julia O'Grady 4th, Cori Drew 6th, and Kaitlyn Rouse 19th. In the JV race Elizabeth Galloway placed 10th followed closely by Amanda Page in 13th. And in the varsity competition the Knights placed 6th as a team and were lead by Mikayla Olsen 29th, Aileen White 18th, and winning the Varsity race was Brooke Wilson running the 2nd fastest time ever on the Fenton course. A huge congrats to all the girls that competed in their first 3.0mile race and welcome to Knights' Cross Country.(Meet pictures are in the media tab)

The Knights prepare for their first two meets of the 2015 XC Season. On Tuesday, Sept 1, the Knights kick off against Barrington HS at Ron Beese Park and then on Saturday the Knights compete at the Fenton Invitational. The Knights are coming off a solid summer and are excited as they begin the competition phase of the season. Come back for race recaps and meet results. GO FIGHT, WIN KNIGHTS!!